“Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:”
'Was there ever a prophet your ancestors did not persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One. And now you have betrayed and murdered him -' - Stephen reviews all of Israel's history as a pattern of rejecting, persecuting, and killing prophets. The phrase 'those who predicted the coming of the Righteous One' (tous prokatangellontas ten eisodon tou Dikaiou) refers to the prophets who foretold the Messiah. The accusation crescendos: 'And now you have betrayed and murdered him' - the present Sanhedrin stands in the succession of those who killed the prophets, and now they have killed the ultimate prophet, the 'Righteous One' (ho Dikaios), Jesus himself. Betrayal and murder: the charges are explicit and devastating.
Church Fathers on Acts 7:52
who have received the Law by the disposition of Angels, and have not kept it. Acts 7:52 How, By the disposition of Angels? Some say (The Law), disposed by Angels; or, put into his hand by the Angel Who appeared to him in the bush; for was He man? No wonder that He who wrought those works, should also have wrought these. You slew them who preached of Him, much more Himself. He shows them disobedient both to God, and to Angels, and the Prophets, and the Spirit, and to all: as…
Nicene & Post-Nicene / Ante-Nicene Fathers translations · public domain
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